How does a nurse pick HERSELF up when everyone keeps kicking her down?

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Specializes in Peds and Forensic/Mental Health/Correct.

i lost my job this week. i put in almost 4 1/2 years and was let go in less than 15 minutes. i wasn't told why. i had another job that wanted me to interview and even had a unit that i was to manage...they called and cancelled their invitation to hire me the day after i was let go from the other place. i have never been in trouble before, don't do drugs, don't drink, hardly ever call in, haven't taken a vacation in 6 years and now this. i do know that i grieved a recent write up because i felt it wasn't accurate. so maybe that's why they let me go. i rocked the boat in my defense. what do i do now? no insurance, no income, no life. i have let my family down and myself as well. i don't know where to go from here. the work i did was all i knew. i was damn good at it and they let me go with no reason. it was so bad that my doctor's i work with were tearful and they keep calling me to ask if i am okay. people in the corporation that i use to work for, are calling me to ask if i am okay and to see if there is anything they can do? what can they do? what can anybody do at this point. i feel like a failure and can't even leave the house to do the things that need to be done around the house. i embarrassed and yet angry because no one will tell me what it was i was let go for. has anyone ever been through this type of thing and what do you do to help yourself get through it? how do you clear your name? i want to leave the state and start over somewhere but financially can't. i would appreciate any words of wisdom from my fellow nurses. i would appreciate it, if you have something hateful or judgemental to say, save it. i can't take another humiliating situation. i am not asking for sympathy, i am just asking what you suggest i do now? :cry::crying2::madface:

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Specializes in Nursing Home ,Dementia Care,Neurology..

Surely you have a legal right to know why you were dismissed? Here(UK) they have to have a very good reason and a paper trail of warnings etc before you can be dismissed.Is it not the same in US?

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I have no advice or answers for you, only a hug. I hope things start looking up for you.

MissLo

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Surely you have a legal right to know why you were dismissed?

Not in a "right to work" state where the employment is "at will" (IOW the employer can dump you at any time with no reason, and in theory you can quit at any time--excluding abandonment--with no reason, though it's probably bad for future employment prospects to quit without giving some notice).

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Specializes in Peds and Forensic/Mental Health/Correct.

They are suppose to here too, but they have nothing. I just got my notice of a raise the day after they let me go! They had just typed it up the day before they let me go? I have nothing in my file to support any wrong doing and I was shocked! I am calling a lawyer on Monday to see if I have some rights...we are an at will State. They can fire me for anything. But I think we still have SOME rights...especially from retaliation.

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Specializes in Emergency, LTC, Med/Surg.

You said that you grieved something, does that mean that you are a union member. If so I would contact my union steward/representative and make sure that everything goes in order. I know that the union that exists here, the employee has the right to request that a union member be present in any meeting that may end in disciplary action or termination to help defend them. I am angry for you. I hope that everything turns out for the better.

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Specializes in Med-Surg, Psych.

Suggest you call the Association for Nurses Attorneys (877-538-2262) for the name/# of nursing attorneys in your area to get advice from an attorney who works with nursing issues.

Some facilities will pay a sign-on bonus and have relocation assistance, so maybe moving out of the area would be an option for you.

Suggest asking to look at your personnel file to see if there is something in there that you are not aware of - in some states you can view it at any time, while in others you can't if terminated unless you have a subpoena. You could also set up a meeting with HR over the situation. Getting a raise and being terminated in the same week doesn't make sense unless something really bad happened in that week.

For your self-esteem which is understandably shot by what happened, suggest you look at all the people you worked with who are concerned about you and who apparently think your termination was uncalled for. Reflect on all the good work you did in the 4.5 years you were there. And remember management makes absolutely ridiculous decisions all the time. And that many other nurses have been terminated without reasonable cause. Also, you did NOT let yourself or your family down, tho I certainly understand your feeling that way at this time. Your management let you and your family down!

Good luck to you.

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Big hug to you - this is an awful situation and I am sorry you have to go through this.

You mentioned feeling like a failure and not leaving the house to do things that need to be done around the house. During this time please be aware of your mental health and seek help if you need it - we need good nurses like you!

You are not a failure, you are a valuable human being who has already given and will continue to give much to the world.

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it does not sound right that you would be terminated without being informed as to why. as judge judy likes to say, if it doesn't sound right, then it probably isn't true. now why were terminated?

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Specializes in RN, BSN, CHDN.

I work in a right to work state too, but it is my understanding that you do get a few verbal and written warnings b4 they just fire you. Can you not write to HR and ask for a reason why? I think it is very important you find out why, so you can give closure and move on

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It just seems hard to believe you wouldn't have a clue as to why they let you go after all this time.

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Specializes in Cardiac stepdown Unit & Pediatrics.

Regardless of right to work state or not, the hospital/organization you work with must follow due process as per their policy ie: if their policy states that you committed a negative action then you get X amount of verbal warnings, X amount of written warnings, X suspensions without pay then termination. Legally they have to tell you why you were fired/let go also. *Hugs* I'm so sorry they did this to you. Just please don't let them walk all over you and get away with it! I wish you the best.

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